Oden was about to act and end the fight after receiving Pain's command, but Kalifa made the first move.
Oden ignored the strange bubbles blowing towards him, easily slashed them apart with his sword, and then leaped forward, catching up to Kalifa, who was trying to block their movements in mid-air using Moonwalk and a thorny whip. Black-red Haki condensed on his foot, and he kicked Kalifa down.
Pain also did not move from his position in the face of these bubbles. He quickly formed hand seals, and a Wind Release blew away the bubbles that were attacking him. Frankly, Kaku and Kalifa were much stronger than two years ago. Kaku and Kalifa had both comprehended Haki in the past two years, Kaku at the Intermediate level, and Kalifa at the Elementary level.
Kaku had also strengthened his ultimate Profound Truth, "Evolution Extreme: Nose Pistol: Qilin Myriad Shots Tower." The original "Extreme: Nose Pistol: Qilin Myriad Shots Tower" could not be Iron Mass transformed like the evolved Profound Truth.
Such a Kaku's strength would definitely rival the current Zoro, but unfortunately, they encountered Kozuki Oden, who possessed Four Emperors-level strength, causing them to be unable to withstand even a single move from Oden, who was fighting with his full power. Kaku looked at Kalifa, who had been knocked to the ground with one blow and was shouting at him, knowing it was time to make a decision. Either die together, or escape quickly and bring back intelligence.
Just as Oden was about to end Kalifa's life, Kaku moved. "Shave! ..." Kaku's soft cry came, and he disappeared. He didn't rush over to stop Oden from killing Kalifa; instead, reason triumphed over emotion, and he fled! Because the training they received from childhood was that the mission was above all else. Pain stood still in place, not intending to pursue.
Oden was about to finish Kalifa's life with a single strike and then pursue Kaku when Pain stopped him. Pain told Oden Reno's location and instructed him to rescue him, and incidentally, clear out the Marine fodder on the ship and around it. In Pain's sensing, he knew Reno's location and also the direction Kaku had fled, but he did not have Oden pursue him.
Pain suddenly changed his mind, believing it was time to let the World Government know of their existence. Oden was a good subordinate; he didn't ask Pain why he didn't kill the woman and let the man go. Pain must have his own plans for doing so. Oden took the order and turned to leave.
Pain walked to Kalifa's side, who was severely injured by a single blow, and looked down at her.
"Now we can talk properly," Pain said, staring into Kalifa's eyes. In Pain's eyes, except for Konan, there was no distinction between men and women, only between enemies and his own people. So even a beautiful woman, if she hindered him from fulfilling the mission given by the Six Paths Sage, was a dead person in Pain's eyes.
Kalifa was severely injured by Oden's "King-level" Haki attack. The power and attack strength added by "King-level" Haki were a nightmare for an Ability User.
Kalifa lay in an S-shape on the rain-soaked ground, completely drenched. She slowly opened her eyes, her blurry vision surveying the man standing before her.
"We... have nothing to talk about... I... I am already a dying person... And you shouldn't expect... to get anything out of me..." Kalifa answered intermittently and weakly. Every word she spoke tugged at her internal injuries, causing Pain and making her cough violently, blood slowly spilling from the corner of her mouth.
Pain had originally intended to get some information from Kalifa about the World Government that he didn't know, but now it seemed his idea had fallen through. The woman lying on the ground appeared to be a die-hard.
"Since that's the case... then I'll send you on your way... I will let you live in this world in another way..."
Since he couldn't get any information, Pain didn't intend to waste time. He decided to end Kalifa's life, extract her Devil Fruit power, and then use her corpse to summon one of the Six Paths.
Pain's left hand dropped a black rod, and his right hand was directed at Kalifa. Just as he was about to act, Kalifa spoke again, "Can... you answer some questions... for me, a... a dying person...?" Kalifa asked weakly.
"You can make a trade with me... one question for one question..." Pain stopped his movements and replied coldly.
"A trade...? You... you really aren't... someone who takes a loss, are you...? A trade... let's forget it... Since you're so... heartless... then let's... die together!" Kalifa shrieked with a distorted face. As she finished speaking, Kalifa's entire body turned into bubbles and assailed Pain.
Kalifa's current state was indeed very weak, and she was indeed severely injured, but Kalifa was very unwilling. She was unwilling for CP0's first mission to fail under her command. Although Kaku escaped and brought back some useful information, the mission itself still failed.
Now facing life and death, she also knew she was going to die, so she deliberately used words to stall for a little time to recover a little more strength, and then unleashed what she considered a sure-kill attack, attempting to die with the opponent.
But Kalifa did not understand Pain's strength, and such an action was still futile. Facing these bubbles flying everywhere and rapidly attacking, Pain's figure remained still, and he softly uttered, "Shinra Tensei! ..."
These bubbles, which had not yet managed to get close to Pain, were all shattered, and a few solitary bubbles floated into the distance, transforming into Kalifa, her entire body soaked in blood.
Pain then immediately used "Almighty Pull" with his right hand to pull Kalifa's body towards him, and with his left hand, he gripped Kalifa's neck with a "snap," ending Kalifa's life just like that. His right hand continued to maintain its suction, absorbing the Devil Fruit energy.
Time passed quickly, and Pain now held a colorful Devil Fruit, similar in appearance to a pineapple. So far, Pain had two Devil Fruits in his hand and didn't know what to do with them. Pain threw Kalifa's corpse to the ground and began the process of creating a Six Paths corpse... New Enies Lobby. CP0 Headquarters
"I understand... You come back first..." Lucci's hand, which had just hung up the Den Den Mushi, had some veins protruding. His perpetually expressionless face rarely showed a hint of anger, and his eyebrows twitched constantly. The call just now was from Kaku, who had transmitted all known intelligence back to headquarters.
For example: the number of people in this organization.
For example: the strength and appearance of the "Archaeologist," named Oden.
For example: Kalifa's death.
For example: the errors in previous intelligence, etc... Lucci knew that this mission was a complete failure. Although the biggest problem lay in the significant discrepancy in the intelligence provided by the spy previously embedded with Crocodile, CP0 couldn't possibly shirk all responsibility.
"Sir... Mission failed... CP0 Blueno and Kalifa sacrificed, Kaku severely injured..."
Lucci reported the situation to Akainu via Den Den Mushi, but he did not mention other issues. As soon as Lucci finished reporting, the Den Den Mushi conveyed Akainu's angry expression and voice.
"What? What did you say!? ...What are you CP0 doing!? ...Is this the reward for my strong support of you!? ..." Akainu roared furiously. Lucci listened expressionlessly to Akainu's roar.
"Give me a reasonable explanation... otherwise, your CP0 will be disbanded! ..." Akainu roared again.
"Sir... The enemy organization is powerful... It includes personnel with King-level Haki... Kaku was severely injured by one blow and escaped, Kalifa could not escape..." Lucci explained in a toneless voice, as if he wasn't talking about his own people's affairs.
Akainu fell silent for a rare moment upon hearing Lucci's explanation, then calmly ordered, "I understand this matter. Send me the detailed intelligence, and I will report it to the Gorosei... From now on, you only do one thing: find out the true identity of this person with King-level Haki and report it in time..." After speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for Lucci's reply. Lucci put down the phone, and Spandam's voice came from the corner of the room.
"I say... Sir! ...Is this matter just going to be left at that? ...We sacrificed two important members, you know? ..." Spandam said with a gloomy expression.
"Execute the order... First, find out who the King-level Haki user is..." Lucci ignored the provocation in Spandam's words and directly ordered.
"Yes, yes, yes... But... how does Sir plan to investigate? ...It's impossible to send more people, right? ...You know, unless all of us go out, we might have a chance to fight... Sending people out individually again will only lead to more deaths, you know? ..."
Spandam was a very clever man. He knew that he was no longer Lucci's superior, but he also didn't like his former subordinate riding over his head. Upon learning that Lucci's first assigned mission had failed, Spandam even secretly rejoiced, wishing for Lucci's failure.
He had also tried to provoke Lucci into disregarding orders and bringing people to cause trouble for this organization. This way, Spandam might be able to re-form CP9 and become the superior again. Spandam's words, seemingly for Lucci's benefit, actually harbored malicious intent.
"No need to send people... You contact Kaku... Have Kaku describe the enemy's appearance and draw a portrait, then compare it with the database to search..." Lucci gave the order and then turned and walked out of the room.
To be continued...